Cargo restraint anchor device for pick-up trucks

ABSTRACT

Herein is disclosed an improvement for a tie-down and attach-point-anchor device for pickup truck beds that clamps to the downward protruding flange of a pickup truck&#39;s inner side rail or other similar available surface having an exposed edge. The anchor incorporating a slotted head capable of swiveling to accommodate different angles at which straps, bungees, ropes, and rigid members may be placed to secure or support cargo.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority from the provisional applicationentitled “Cargo Restraint Anchor Device for Pick-Up Trucks”, havingapplication No. 60/538,707, filed on Jan. 23, 2004.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a cargo anchor device designed to allowthe restraint of articles that are loaded into the cargo bed of apick-up truck, and specifically addresses a novel device that attachesanywhere along the downward protruding flange of the inner side rail ofthe cargo box and functions as an anchor for a cargo restraining strap,bungees, ropes, leashes, solid members, and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Pickup trucks are typically purchased to provide a means fortransporting cargo. Cargo can be anything loaded into the truck's bedfrom large commercial palleted loads, building supplies purchased at thelocal lumber yard, and everything in between. Ideally, to be safe, whencargo is carried in a pickup truck's bed it should be restrained frommovement. Restraint is often accomplished by tying the cargo down with astrap or rope utilizing a conveniently located tie-point orattach-point. However, most manufactures of pickup trucks do notincorporate convenient tie-points or attach-points within the bed oralong the bed's side rails to aid in the securing cargo from movementwithin the bed. In addition, the advent of bed liners used to protectthe surface of the bed, side panels, and rails from damage by cargo havefurther complicated the addition or availability of tie-points iffactory installed. The present invention solves the problem by providingan aftermarket, easily installable tie-point that can be positionedanywhere along the pickup truck bed's downward protruding flange portionof the inner bed side rail. The present invention can be installed inminutes, and incorporates a swiveling, slotted head for attachinga-strap, rope, leash, bungee cord, solid member, and the like. Byallowing the head to swivel, a strap or straps threaded through the headcan cross at any angle thus providing optimal restraint without bunchingor twisting the strapping material.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed at anchoring cargo to the side rail(s)of a pickup truck's bed. The present invention may also be mounted onany a sheet surface similar to that available on the downward protrudingflange of the inner side rail of a pickup truck's bed. The inventionconsists of a combination of an L-body portion, a C-body portion, and aslotted, swivel head. The inventive cargo anchor's L-body portion and aC-body are tied together with a threaded bolt and nut that cooperate toform a compression clamp, clamping the anchor device on opposing sidesof a downward protruding flange of a pickup trucks inner side rail orsimilar solid sheet surface with an exposed edge. Typically, one or moreof the inventive cargo anchors would be mounted to one or both bed siderails. The inventive anchors would then be used to secure cargo withinthe bed. The inventions unique swiveling head allows optimal stressrelief when straps are strung at acute angles to the bed rails.

The above and other features and advantages of the present inventionwill become more clear from the detailed description of a specificillustrative embodiment thereof, presented below in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top right perspective view of a universal tie down inaccordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a partially exploded top perspective view of a universal tiedown in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a cut away perspective view of a universal tie down attachedto a vehicle in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a top right perspective view of a universal tie down inaccordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a top right perspective view of a universal tie down inaccordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a top right perspective view of a universal tie down inaccordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a top right perspective view of a universal tie down inaccordance with one embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 8 is a top right perspective view of a universal tie down inaccordance with one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following discussion focuses on the preferred and other inventiveembodiments of the Cargo Restraint Anchor Device for Pick-up Trucks.However, as will be recognized by those skilled in the art, thedisclosed-Cargo Restraint Anchor Device for Pick-up Trucks is applicableto a wide variety of situations beyond those discussed. It will bereadily apparent that this device will mount on any flat surface with anexposed edge and can be used as a cargo restraint, tie-point for pets,attach point for solid members, as well as many other single-point andmulti-point tie-down applications.

Preferred Embodiment

The preferred embodiment is illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3. FIG. 1illustrates a perspective view of anchor device 100A assembled but notattached to the bed rail of a pickup truck. FIG. 2 illustrates aperspective view of 100A exploded, illustrating individual components.10A is constructed of three major components consisting of swivel head20, L-body 30, and C-body 40. Head 20 is fastened to L-body 30 by flathead bold 54 which passes through bore 34 of L-body 30 and bore 24 ofhead 20. Flat washers 56 and 57 on the top and bottom sides of head 20act as spacers and to reduce friction when head 20 swivels. Typically,nut 58 would be lightly torqued but not torqued fully on bolt 54allowing head 20 to swivel around bolt 54's longitudinal axis. Slot 22is cut in head 24 to facilitate the insertion of a tie-down strap orhook when used with strapping materials or a through-bolt when used withsolid a solid member, FIGS. 6, 7, and 8 solid member 60. C-body 40contains tapped bore 44 to receive the treads of bolt 50. Washer 52provides an buffer interface between slot 32 and the head of bolt 50.FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of 100A attached to the downwardprotruding flange portion 86 of the left inner bed side rail 84 ofpickup truck 80. It can be seen in the cut—of the left pickup truck bedside wall 82, rail top 84, and flange 86, that C-body 40 and L-body 30are being drawn together by tightening bolt 50, thus clamping anchor100A to flange 86. The higher the torque applied to bolt 50, the tighterthe clamping action. When bolt 50 is loosened, the entire 100A assemblycan be moved anywhere along flange 86. When installed on a pickuptruck's side rail, the horizontal portion of L-body 30 is essentiallyparallel to top rail 84. The bottom of the horizontal portion of L-body30 is typically contiguous to top rail 84; however, if a bed liner, notillustrated, were installed in the pickup truck's bed, the bottom of thehorizontal portion of L-body 30 would be contiguous to top of the bedliner. Slot 32 allows for an adjustable fit based on different heightflange rails 86 and bed liner thicknesses. Tab 42 fits into slot 32 andcooperates with bolt 50 to prevent C-body 30 from rotating when bolt 50is torqued. When one or more anchor 100A's are installed on opposingside rails of a pickup truck's bed, tie-down strapping or solid membersmay be attached between them. Strapping can then act to apply bias forceagainst cargo being carried thus reducing the chance of the cargoshifting. In the case of solid members, FIG. 8-60, the members may bebolted through slot 22 to provide a strong, stable mounting. Anchor 100Acan also be used on only one side rail to restrain such articles asladders, bicycles, and the like. Swivel head 20 allows straps installedthrough slot 22 to always be optimally stress loaded no matter whatangle the straps are strung at across the truck's bed.

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of100A, labeled 100B. 100B is identical to the preferred embodiment 100Awith the exception that it contains a plurality of swivel head 20 s.

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of100A, labeled 100C. 100C is identical to the preferred embodiment 100Awith the exception that Horizontal support portion of L-body 30 isfolded back on itself, thus limiting head 20 from swiveling through 360degrees as in embodiments 100A and 100B. In embodiment 100C, friction orspring bias may be used to automatically move head 20 to the side whennot in use, thus preventing or reducing head 20's encroachment into thepickup truck's bed, thus reducing the risk of scratching or catchingwhile loading and unloading cargo. FIG. 5 also illustrates that acamlock 53 or a common nut could be used in place of threaded bore 44 toallow easy adjustment and clamping of any of the disclosed embodimentsherein.

FIGS. 6 through 8 illustrate how rigid members 60 could be used inconjunction with embodiments 100A, 100B, or 100C. In FIG. 6, swivelinghead 20 is installed and a bolt is used to secure rigid member 60. InFIG. 7, head 20 is removed and rigid member 60 is bolted in place usingthe bores used to attach head 20. Embodiments 100A, 100B, or 100C may beused with swivel head 20 installed on L-body 30 or removed, as in FIG.7, to facilitate attachment of rigid members 60 or other bolt-ondevices.

1. (canceled)
 2. An anchor device, comprising: a clamping systemreleasable attaching to a flange; and a swiveling head attached to theclamping system.
 3. The anchor device of claim 2, wherein the swivelinghead contains an opening though which a cargo restraint may be attached.4. The anchor device of claim 2, wherein the clamping system includes anL-body having a slot.
 5. The anchor device of claim 4, wherein theclamping system has a C-body that engages the L-body.
 6. The anchordevice of claim 5, further including a bolt extended from the C-bodythrough the slot in the L-body.
 7. The anchor device of claim 6, furtherincluding a lever attached to the bolt.
 8. The anchor device of claim 7,wherein the lever has a slot.
 9. An anchor device, comprising: aclamping system releasably attaching to a flange; and a lever attachedto the clamping system.
 10. The anchor device of claim 9, wherein thelever has a slot.
 11. The anchor device of claim 9, further including aswiveling head attached to the clamping system.
 12. The anchor device ofclaim 11, wherein the clamping system includes a L-body and a C-body.13. The anchor device of claim 12, wherein the L-body has a slot. 14.The anchor device of claim 12, further including a bolt attached to theC-body, extending through the slot in the L-body and attached to thelever.